Home Office

Domestic Abuse

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the (a) capacity and (b) sustainability of specialist domestic abuse services in responding to covid-19; and whether emergency funding will be made available for those services.

Victoria Atkins: Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation, no matter what the stresses. It is an abhorrent crime and perpetrators will be prosecuted.The Government acknowledges that recent measures announced to tackle coronavirus (COVID-19), such as the order to stay at home, can cause anxiety for those who are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse. We are working closely with the sector to monitor and assess the impacts of the current situation.The Chancellor has announced a funding package of some £750m to support charities including those providing domestic abuse services. The Home Office has announced an additional £2 million in funding to support technological capability such as specialist helplines and websites.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether there will be an official ban on mass gatherings.

Caroline Dinenage: On 23 March, the Prime Minister announced that people will only be allowed to leave their home for the very limited purposes including shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home. The Government has been clear that there should be no public gatherings of more than two people.There are only two exceptions to this rule:where the gathering is of a group of people who live together - this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home.where the gathering is essential for work purposes - but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace.The Government has also announced that social events, including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies should not take place. This will exclude funerals, which can be attended by immediate family.